Thread by @FranklinMatters

Getting ready to live report on the Town council budget hearing, part 1 to complete then part 2 to open and complete both tonight follow along with the doc here -> franklinma.gov/town-council/a… #tc0525

While there was a problem with the cable feeds last night, there was not an issue with either Zoom or YouTube -> youtube.com/live/BLXhaMDHJ… #tc0525

Provided brief comment to acknowledge the cable feed problem Weds evening with reminder that Zoom and YouTube were fine, and there is an audio backup as well.

Reopens the continuation of the public hearing #1 from Weds.
#tc0525 Q on the chemical increase of 12k to 100k, that is actually the pretreatment for the roads that has been introduced recently (the squiggly lines in the road) that help before storms to prevent freezing

Request for the fleet manager to come once onboard and ready to talk about what is going on. #tc0525 DPW affects every resident and business in the Town. Water line on Arlington; Grove St funded with grants as well, still waiting for signal head; Union St mill and overlay ...

Infrared program to work on road patches, sidewalk repairs and handicap access, Jackson working on deep cuts, Scofield Dr water line, sewer phase 7 of the program, and the interceptor last price received from DOT, main construction late fall and going into next year

Beaver St recreation additions, contractor did some, internally did some but it is coming out nice; sculpture park rededication coming with more minor work being done; expanding parking for rail trail; Nason St park redone, almost complete.

Beaver St interceptor will disrupt traffic on RT 140, more communications coming, we want folks and businesses to be aware and work around it, the road will maintain access, there will be disruption as the dig moves along the lane

Redesign of the Beaver St recycling center, after the state transfer of land is officially complete, we do want to include composting in that area. Would require a cart but maybe funded by grants, still down the road. Pay as you through is not as efficient as what, how we ...

do it , our enterprise fund works better, other communities still have the trash in the tax base and where they are heavily commercial it makes sense for them. DPW budget is 38% personnel vs other depts about 80-90%, our budget is all the other stuff we need to buy

Storm water work will continue to increase year over year, the fee will remain as is for now, discussion on ability to transfer and carry service time to Franklin, so we get experience, a Franklin resident gets the work, he gets a shorter commute, etc.

Senior Center director Danielle Hopkins, Deputy Director Sarah Amaral answering questions, explaining the use of the van and driver added to the budget.
Two week Senior Olympics multiple events, physical, cards, trivia, etc June 12 to 23, awards on 23rd

Felicia Oti, Library Director, one wish list is to go out to the residents (i.e. mobile) some folks can't get to the Library but if we could get out that would be great. Bring mobile services to middle school, will be testing use of some Dean facilities for some summer...

programs. program growth is astounding, need more professional staff, they are stretched, should be a Dept of 5 (currently 2) exploring the strategic plan and how to do more, expanding and making relevant collections, would consider expanding hours to be open 7 days

So many events happening the library and Senior center calendars are separate because they are so busy it would overwhelm the calendar views

Recreation director Ryan Jette enrollment growth is continuing, great integration with youth sports, lights coming to King St fields to expand hours of use. Only 3 full time staff; other part-time or volunteers help deliver the services

Multiple items for expanding and upgrading spaces for accessibility King St, etc.
Cultural Council Q on funding? Attempting to grow the funding over time to help with the cultural festival, had been all volunteer but would also add a director to help coordinate the efforts

Discussion around the festival not happening, grants can be increased, the money can be used, it also helps to show the state that we also have local funding to go with their grants. The festival is in "intermission"
This concludes the held depts.

Continuation of the first hearing closed, second hearing opens. for this to start councilors can ask questions that weren't not previously asked. FY 23 resolving accounts est to end at $8m, FY 24 is anticipated to end at about $5m. Projecting to use $3m during FY 24

Revolving funds cover a variety of needs that are fee based for transportation, sports, activities, and lifelong learning, etc...
They generally spend the budget that is allocated. Minimal may go back to free cash, some unfilled positions may have been covered with contracted ..

resources at a higher cost so the 'savings' may not be there and need to be covered with other school funding. The 24 notified yesterday before the meeting some were also enrollment based, so all may not be able to bring back if additional funding is available

24 notified were across departments, so not all music. Some are perceived with more impact than others. Cognizant of the impact that this budget has, we don't cut to cut, it is a finite amount of money we have to work with. It is not enough to do the job that ...

needs to be done.
The teacher contract issue was done in fair bargaining, it was a joint agreement, the messaging around this is what I have heard the most. We backed in $1m off the bat with expected reductions and retirements, this proposal was lower than 4 of ...

last 5 budgets (aside - the school committee did change and increase the superintendent recommendation) we do need to develop a long term plan for our facilities, ECDC was projected at around of 100 and we're at 140... Elementary enrollment will drop and then come back...

in a couple of years to where we are. "A strategic plan to explore opportunities is great" Frongillo
Good discussion around the real issues, of the school budget sustainability.
Felicia thanks for the ability to park at DT for library services (parking is an issue not ...

mentioned earlier) thanks for the coordination with multiple superintendents. I stepped up to provide some historical perspective on a 2007 financial issue that ultimately led to Miriam Goodman's hiring, recently received an award for her work

Q on the Senior Center flooding, insurance paid for it, insurance also went deeper to find the issue and found a contractors failure to insulate around the elevator as the elevator was installed. We are doing the fixes to prevent reoccurring again.

No more questions from councilors, none from chamber audience, none from Zoom participants, this second hearing closes
Voting doc is what it is, the cherry Sheets have not yet been released, if folks are comfortable with this, we can then make some adjustments

Can adjust for the Senate ways&means funding, adjust for the capital items back to capital, bottom line this would add the $770k to the schools to get them to $1.8m which is their average as shown previously. Can't do it tonight as aspects of this req 48 hour notice

Resolution on June 7 would have two legislations for action to make the adjustments, is it everything? No, it is not but it gets something.

Open public hearing on sewer rate increase, three year increase to replace the Beaver St interceptor as previously discussed
No questions, hearing closed

Resolution 23-33: Adoption of the FY 24 Budget motion to approve, second, discussion Frongillo, Jamie has the hardest job as he has to say no, we get to scrutinize and explore, on aggregate the long term fiscal health is more important than the short term needs ...

Grateful for what has been done over the past two nights to get us to where we are
Thanks to all for the work that goes into the $150m budget to bring before us. This started in November 2022, and we are still dealing with it, vote on motion passes 9-0

Resolution 23-34: Salary Schedule: Full-Time Elected Official - Town Clerk, moved, second (elected official increase in salary needs to be voted on separately) discussion required by town code, at 2.5% commensurate with other town increases via roll call passes 9-0

Resolution 23-35: Departmental FY24 Expenditure Limits, Town Code Chapter 73, MGL
Chapter 44, Section 53E1/2 moved, second, discussion per code needs to be authorized each year, passes 9-0

Resolution 23-23: Approval of FY 24 Community Preservation Annual Budget, moved, second, discussion annual approval of required reserve account, passes 9-0

Resolution 23-24: FY24 Community Preservation Appropriation of Debt Service Funds - Maple
Hill and Schmidt Farm: moved, second, discussion this approves the required payment, passes 9-0

Resolution 23-25: FY 24 Community Preservation Appropriation of Capital Funds motion to waive reading, amend to remove the Nason St project open Weds the 31st, the first one the CPA funds complete, amend and reduce, motion and second, amendment passes 9-0. Vote on

Motion as amended, passes 9-0

Bylaw Amendment 23-897: Sewer Rate Increase - Second Reading, moved, second, discussion the cost of the borrowing is known through the State fund for 20 years, vote via roll call 9-0

Resolution 23-36: Authorizing the Borrowing of Money to Pay Costs Associated with Designing,
Constructing and Equipping a PFAS Treatment Facility at the Well 7/7A Site (DWSRF 12544) required by code to send to DEP for their approval, moved, second, passes 9-0

Resolution 23-37: Authority for Town Administrator to File Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
Loan Application moved, second, discussion; council signed a letter raising objection to PFAS not being stopped yet we have to continue to fix it passes 9-0

Resolution 23-38: Cable Funds in Support of PEG Service and Programming per MGL Ch. 44,
§53F3/4; motion to waive the reading, passes 9-0, vote on the motion, passes 9-0

Town Administration report memorial day breakfast in the morning, parade on Monday,
No subcmte met recently, oops A&C listening session held, now a report will be organized to present to the council.
Future items look at regulations so meetings don't go to midnight

Councilor Comments
Cormier-Ledger thanks for the work on the A&C listening session, welcome to the new company opening, condolences to the Gaspar family, thanks to all for the work on the budget, we can feel good about where we are

Chandler, thanks to all for sticking through the budget process
Pellegri, thanks for the department heads and all for the budget
Sheridan, second to the budget thanks
Frongillo, echo condolences and thanks; second film on Tuesday at THE BLACK BOX

Hamblen, thanks to the FinCom for their three hearings, they spend the time to go into more details
13th year anniversary living here, moved here from Westwood, now I know what a low tax rate means, all departments have made adjustments, wants to apologize if she has had ...

any role in continuing the "burden" that some refer to the schools as.
Jones - happy and proud for those who stepped up and made it thru this budget. Son got award as best actor, one who spoke last night was my daughter. It is just as much a passion for them as sports

Dellorco - reiterating what was said, tough decisions, now we got to fix, get together and fix it
July 3rd rod & gun club does their fishing derby, $10 admission
Mercer - condolences to the Gaspar family, thanks to TA and dept heads, parents, students, etc impressive

Concern of the community to the sustainability, looking forward to putting together the financial plan and what we might need for an override in the not too distance future
Fab 5 - Michigan bball team
Motion to adjourn, passes 9-0
That's all for tonight catch you next time

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